Concerto K?ln was founded in 1985, and it was not long before it had established a firm place amongst the highest-ranking orchestras for historical performance practice. Right from the beginning, both audience and critics alike were highly enthusiastic about the energetic performance style of the ensemble. Thoroughly-researched interpretations brought to the stage with a new vivacity soon became the trademark of Concerto K?ln, quickly paving the way to the most renowned concert halls and music festivals. During extensive tours throughout the USA, South East Asia, Canada, Latin America, Japan, Israel and most countries in Europe, Concerto K?ln has spread its musical message and the name of its hometown throughout the world.

Concerto K?ln has just recently begun a close collaboration with the label Berlin Classics and has numerous recordings with the Deutsche Grammophon, Harmonia Mundi, Teldec, EMI-Virgin Classics and Capriccio and is able to boast a discography of almost 50 CDs, many of which have been awarded by Echo, Grammy, The German Record Critics Award, the Choc du Monde de la Musique, the Diapason d’Année or the Diapason d'Or.

The musicians of the ensemble have been described as "musical truffle pigs" and it is fair to say that the orchestra has, with striking consistency, re-discovered composers whose beautiful music has remained hidden in the shadows of the great names and unfortunately forgotten by history.

In April of 2005, Martin Sandhoff was chosen as Artistic Director of Concerto K?ln. The Concert Master position of Concerto Kln is fulfilled not only by Anton Steck and Stefano Montanari, both of whom officially hold the position as Concert Master, but by members of Concerto K?ln and visiting artists as well.

The size of the ensemble varies according to program and repertoire. As an ensemble which feels a responsibility to historical performance practice, Concerto Kln performs predominantly without a conductor. For large-scale productions such as operas and oratorios, Concerto K?ln enjoys working together with conductors including René Jacobs, Marcus Creed, Evelino Pidò, Ivor Bolton, David Stern, Daniel Reuss, Pierre Cao, Laurence Equilbey and Emmanuelle Ha?m.